The Providence Center Opens
Botvin, Porcaro, Teverow Families Therapeutic Playground

PROVIDENCE, RI (September 23, 2009)—The Providence Center marked the official opening of the Botvin, Porcaro, Teverow Families Therapeutic Playground with a ribbon cutting ceremony at The Providence Center’s 520 Hope Street location on September 23. Donors, trustees and staff were present to watch as students of The Providence Center School and Early Childhood Institute as they ran to play in the playground for the first time.

Felix and Lori Porcaro; Dale Klatzker, Providence Center president/CEO; Cindy and Joshua Teverow and Shelly and Jim Botvin

The playground was named in honor of Jim and Shelly Botvin of Warren, Felix and Lori Porcaro of Jamestown, and Joshua and Cindy Teverow of Narragansett, who contributed to the project. Botvin also serves as Chair of The Providence Center’s Board of Trustees.

A project four years in the making, The Botvin, Porcaro, Teverow Families Therapeutic Playground will be a therapeutic and educational tool for children ages three through six years old from both the Early Childhood Institute and the preschool classrooms of The Providence Center School. The features of the playground are designed to reduce anxiety, elevate moods, manage symptoms, and help children learn to make choices while interacting with other children and teachers. 

Dale K. Klatzker, president/CEO of The Providence Center, remarked on what this playground means to the children of The Providence Center School and Early Childhood Institute. “For many of our students, play isn’t something that comes naturally,” said Klatzker. “Not only will this playground be a safe play area, but it will also serve as a means for practicing techniques that will help our students to succeed when they return to their community schools and daycares.”

Dale Klatzker, Providence Center president/CEO, and Randy Martinez manager of community relations at CVS Caremark Charitable Trust

In addition to the generosity of the Botvin, Porcaro and Teverow Families, a number of grants from local organizations contributed over $100,000 to fund the development of the playground. CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, represented by Manager of Community Relations Randy Martinez, presented a check for $25,000 dollars at the ceremony. “We have seen the positive impact that therapeutic playgrounds have had on children,” said Martinez. “It is an honor to be here and to support this important program.”




A grant from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) allowed The Providence Center to hire architects Mike Lindstrom and Joanne Hiromura of Horizons Design, a Brookline, Mass., design firm nationally known for creating early childhood spaces.

Other donors of the project acknowledge at the event were:
Narragansett Improvement Co.
Shriners of Rhode Island Charities Trust
Hasbro Childrens Fund
Ocean State Charities Trust
Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation
Electric Boat Corporation Employees’ Community Services Association
Marc DuPuis
Navigant Credit Union
Pawtucket Lions Club
The Providence Center Employees
Eileen Julie and Brittany Jaye Richardson Memorial Fund (In honor of Simmy Carter)
Darrell and Susan Ross
Anonymous (In honor of Simmy Carter)

The Providence Center annually serves over 10,000 adults, children and adolescents experiencing mental illness, substance use and emotional problems. Since its establishment in 1969, The Providence Center has been part of Rhode Island’s exemplary behavioral health care system, offering a comprehensive array of treatment and rehabilitation services.